Gillibrand Calls On CDC To Provide Updates On Public Health Readiness Ahead Of Mass Travel For World Cup

Gillibrand Calls On CDC To Provide Updates On Public Health Readiness Ahead Of Mass Travel For World Cup

Jun 8, 2026

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to provide updates to the public, providers, and Congress regarding public health readiness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With millions of international visitors expected across the country amid deadly outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola abroad, Senator Gillibrand emphasized the importance of comprehensive plans to detect, identify, and respond to potential infectious diseases.

In a letter to Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya and ASPR Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response John Knox, Senator Gillibrand called out the dangers of disease spread at an event as massive as the World Cup, writing, "The scale of international travel associated with the World Cup presents unique public health challenges that warrant substantial coordination. Infectious diseases do not respect borders, and with millions of people expected to attend the World Cup, we must be proactive to safeguard our nation's public health."

With millions of travelers in international airports, public transit systems, hotels, stadiums, and other high-density settings providing opportunities for diseases to spread, Gillibrand pushed the CDC and ASPR to engage with "local, state, and national partners, in addition to international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) who is crucial to identifying and understanding threats, as well as monitoring and responding to potential outbreaks."

Gillibrand closed by stressing the heightened risk that New Yorkers face during the tournament, writing that "as a major international hub and host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, New York State has a particular interest in ensuring the United States is fully prepared to respond to evolving infectious disease threats before they reach our communities. I urge CDC and ASPR to provide timely and transparent updates to the public, providers, and Congress regarding hantavirus and Ebola response efforts."

The full text of the letter can be found here.

###